Wait, What? Jeb Bush Is A Fan Of Racist “Bell Curve” Author

Jeb Bush, a presumed 2016 Republican presidential candidate, made a revelatory remark about his position on race in America by tacitly endorsing controversial racist The Bell Curve author Charles Murray, according to Talking Points Memo.

The former Florida governor praised Murray’s books twice on Thursday during an interview with National Review editor Rich Lowry, at a forum sponsored by the conservative magazine, writes the news outlet.

In his 1984 book, Losing Ground: American Social Policy, 1950-1980, Murray argues that social welfare programs instituted in the 1960s and 1970s have harmed the nation’s infrastructure. He also co-authored The Bell Curve, which argues that Blacks are not as intelligent as Whites because of flawed genetics.

So dangerous are Murray’s thoughts, that the Southern Poverty Law Center has classified him as a White Nationalist.

Bush raised Murray’s name when Lowry asked if there is any policy or anything public officials can do to address the family breakdown.

From Talking Points Memo:

“Absolutely, there is,” Bush, a likely 2016 Republican presidential candidate, said. “It’s not exactly the core. My views on this were shaped a lot on this by Charles Murray’s book, except I was reading the book and I was waiting for the last chapter with the really cool solutions — didn’t quite get there.”

Later in the interview, Lowry asked Bush what he likes to read. Again, he cited Murray.

“I like Charles Murray books to be honest with you, which means I’m a total nerd I guess,” Bush said.

Bush did not say which of Murray’s books he was referring to, but praising his work is not a good way for Republicans to win votes from people of color, which they desperately need to win in 2016. His political team did not immediately respond to Talking Points Memo.